Another data point from a post on Reflective Altruism about biorisk:
This post begins a sub-series, “Biorisk” arguing that levels of existential biorisk may be lower than many effective altruists suppose.
I have to admit that I had a hard time writing this series. The reason for that is that I’ve had a hard time getting people to tell me exactly what the risk is supposed to be. I’ve approached high-ranking effective altruists, including those working in biosecurity, and been told that they cannot give me details, because those details pose an information hazard. (Apparently the hazard is so great that they refused my suggestion of bringing their concerns to a leading government health agency, or even to the CIA, for independent evaluation). One of them told me point-blank that they understood why I could not believe them if they were not willing to argue in detail for their views, and that they could make do with that result.
Another data point from a post on Reflective Altruism about biorisk: